OK, so I posted this thread
http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthre...hreadid=491627
And then proceeded to read all 21 pages of this thread.
I was a little disappointed not to find any information regarding arms, shock lengths and calculating that... and further more the answer to my question.
I understand how to follow the directions and measure for shock length and shock stroke.
I also understand that you want the shock length to stop the down-travel rather than the bind points of the front end. And I understand that you want the shock to bottom before the frame hits the ground.
What I do not understand is rather or not a shock length and stroke being 1/4" short is a major deal, large enough to buy new shocks for the arms or check to see if the shocks can be lengthened that small amount?
When I consider aftermarket shocks I have bought for arms and when I think about stock shocks I have taken off stock arms.... I want to say no it does not matter.
None of those have ever been close to using 99% of the available down-travel of the arms.... and I can't see where bottoming with the frame 1.75" off the ground instead of 1.5" is going to kill anything....
But there might be something else I am not thinking about.